'Love & Hip-Hop' Season 4 Premiere Recap: Terrifically Messy

October 29, 2013 - 3:26 pm
by
Michael Arceneaux

Love & Hip-Hop New York Season 4
Season 4, Episode 1

Tried as they might to keep the momentum of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta going, season 3 of the original incarnation of the show revealed itself to be more like a weekly cry for help than riveting television. It had its moments, but overall the first Love & Hip Hop was the winded opening act to LHHATL’s Beyoncé.

So it was with hesitation that I thought to watch the show’s fourth season. Nevertheless, I’m pleasantly surprised with the season 4 opener. Granted, a lot of the cast members still register a “Who in the hell are you?” and “Where did they dig y’all up?” But hey, they were engaging and horrifically messy – to very entertaining results. It’s as good as it can possibly by. After all, you can only give so much without the Puerto Rican Princess otherwise known as Joseline Hernandez, Baby. —Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick)

Click through for a breakdown of last night's episode.

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1. Stop Sleeping With Your Managers, People
If Mimi Faust had a fraternal twin sister from Mississippi who moved to NYC to pursue her dreams of launching an acting career in the ultra big city, but ended up with a no good cheating man who exploits old ties to the music industry to score new women, she’d be Tara. Tara is the latest victim of the VH1 franchise’s running theme best described with the question, “Girl, why are you with him?” She is the baby mama of Peter Gunz, and in a recent interview with “Sway In The Morning,” Gunz admitted he was three months behind on rent when executive producer Mona Scott-Young called him to do the show. It shows.
Gunz is managing Amina, who some of you might recognize from the group, Black Buddafly. They had a body-rolling anthem called “Rock A Bye.” Amina has a nice voice, but she can’t sit with us because she’s been sleeping with a man who she knew had a family. Worse, when she met Tara for the first time in person, she smugly took joy in Tara owning up that she was a fan of her music. She is a horrible person.
No, the big reveal that she’s actually married to Peter Gunz doesn’t make me feel for her a little bit. The both of them went behind Tara’s back and decided to embarrass her on national television. And Peter: Did you really neglect to take your kid to school and pick him back up over Amina? I know times are hard and the rent been due, but, Peter, you are running the risk of making Stevie J look like Jesus’ favorite disciple. Moreover, Amina, you could have a single featuring Yahweh, Yeezus and Young Jeezy, and I wager that most folks will bootleg your stuff fall the same based on the way this story line is going.

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2. Poor Yandy
Yandy opened the show by explaining that due to Mendeecees being held without bond as he awaits trial, she’s tended to caring for his 7-year-old son a few days a week. Unbeknownst to her, the little boy already knew that his dad was locked up, thus sparing her from the burden of continuing to feed him a lie about Mendeecees’ whereabouts (he joined the army).
Later, while having a conversation with Mendeeces, you could tell how lonely for attention Yandy was. She wants to be asked about her day, be told she’s pretty, and all of those other things you get to do with a partner not facing a significant amount of prison time. Yandy told Mendeeces over the phone, “I do still expect occasionally for you to make me feel like I’m in a relationship.”
In her confessional, she added, “Call me crazy, but umm, what else you got to do all day besides dream of me day and night?” You know, I like these two as a couple and I understand the power of love (We miss you, Luther), but Yandy, Bison to Bison, you might want to lower your expectations. You may even want to press pause and weigh your relationship options. Good luck with your new label with Rich Dollaz, though!

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3. Joe Budden and Tahiry Are Back…For Now
Last night at a premiere party for the show, Joe Budden and Tahiry confirmed that they are no longer a couple. There were already whispers of that online, so we won't be subjected to the reigniting parking of an old flame as we are watching the beginning of the end for the second time around. In the meantime, on the premiere the two are awaiting the results of varying STD tests before having the sex again. At one point, Joe tells Tahiry, “It’s about to be a rollercoaster.” I’m sure it will, Hip-Hop Hannibal.

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4. Erica Mena Is Here To Stay
Erica Mena put me off the minute she attacked former cast member Kimbella. You could tell she was parched for the publicity and was willing to do the most to get even a miniscule amount of screen time. The plan worked as evidenced by her being added to the official cast. Even so, watching her and Rich Dollaz and their tired love affair (of the cameras) was exhausting. Thankfully, they’ve broken up.
Erica says she’s over the “drama” with Rich that she seems to not understand was mostly her doing. Whatever, she’s dating a woman named Cyn Santana now. They literally live-tweet and live-Instagram their love affair, so one can imagine what they’ll do with VH1 around.

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5. K. Michelle Has Arrived…Kinda
K. Michelle assured her fans that her joining the cast of Love & Hip Hop was a mere formality. She promised that she wouldn’t be interacting with the regular cast members much and would be mostly featured with her friends as she looks to start her own reality show. She did not tell a lie. All we got from the Memphis motormouth was the sight of her hopping out of a staged private jet and getting in the car of a homegirl was kind of like Shekinah, but not as funny. She seems lovely, though. In any event, I’ll take what I can get.